Kiss

Edward made a concerted effort to unclench his jaw. God save me, he thought. Bella sat beside him, at her computer, answering emails. Edward took a slow breath, quietly savoring the sear of her scent. God save her, he amended. He let the breath out and searched her face. She was lost in thought, her fingers tapping unevenly on the keys. As always, her silent mind drove him crazy. If only he could hear her. Then he could be sure, he would know if what he was doing was justifiable. Because if she felt even half as strongly for him as he did for her, then it would all be worth it. Worth the risk, worth the torture of her special fragrance, la tua cantata.

Worth the uneasy feeling in his stomach, like it was all sloshy. Like he had a stomach.

But he knew she loved him. She had come to Italy to save him. At her peril. They'd both nearly lost their lives for each other that day.

Bella's tapping paused and she bit her lip, unconsciously, her teeth pressing into the soft flesh. Edward suppressed a groan and clenched his teeth again. He wanted to bite those lips. To suck them into his mouth, to taste her sweet flavor, feel the warmth of her kiss. It's too dangerous, he reminded himself. What if I break her fragile skin? It would be over in a second if that happened. Edward shivered inwardly at the thought. Then he smiled at himself. To think, it's come to this...

Edward had never had a mind for romance. Before his new birth his thoughts were of the glory earned in war. He'd wanted to be a soldier, to fight in whatever war they were selling at the time. He had no patience for frivolous things like love. Girls were all very well, but they wanted you to marry them and give them children. Provide for them. Edward had had no use for that. In the intervening years, his pursuits had been more academic than combative. He had studied music, art, medicine, the sciences. Yet, he never found himself wanting a romantic companion. Until Bella. That was why it had taken him so long to understand what Alice had seen right away. He didn't know what love felt like. What it looked like. How it could hurt. How, even with the agony of it, love could make you crave someone worse than air, worse than food. Like a drug.

Edward tried to understand his feelings. They'd been dormant for so long. Now that they were resurfacing he found them strange, almost alien. Yet he was driven by them. Driven to stay by the side of this beautiful, uncoordinated girl with a penchant for getting hurt. The girl with the scent that hurt more than any thirst. More than any fire. His throat burned just thinking about it, let alone sitting in the same room with her. Or kissing her. God save us both.

Bella finished her email and turned to look at him. Her eyes were warm chocolate as she appraised him. Edward tried unsuccessfully to unclench his jaw. His body felt frozen, tense. Bella smiled at him from her chair and stood up, coming to sit beside him on the bed.

"All finished." she sighed, her breath hitting him hard.

"Homework now?" Edward managed. Bella pushed her lower lip up into a frown and pouted. She looked sinfully delicious. His jaw tightened.

"I'm done with most of it. Actually, I was hoping for some other type of activity. You know, something a little more fun..." She said it teasingly, drawing out the words, and he had no trouble picking up her meaning. Unfortunately for him, or maybe for her, Bella had a body full of hormones. She wanted him. Thank God, he mused, the right corner of his mouth curving into a smile. Bella's eyes unfocused. Her scent intensified, as it always did when she was aroused. It hit the back of his throat like a knife. But that was only half the problem. It also hit him in the groin, sending icy prickles of desire all over his skin. His un-stomach knotted. His face was flushed, though no human could detect it. He wanted her, too... Bad.

"Haven't we endangered your life enough today?" he asked, smirking. Her crestfallen face was his undoing. He couldn't bear to hurt her. Not again. Slowly, so slowly, he reached up to her face. He laid the back of his knuckles against her hot cheek and slowly drew them down her face, shuddering at the velvet of her skin, till he cupped her chin. He paused there, drowning in her eyes. She in his. I love you, he said with his eyes. It wasn't something he said out loud very often, though it was certainly true. Do you love me? His eyes asked her. Even if I'm a monster? As if she'd heard, Bella's face changed slowly. A soft and happy smile creeping across it. It was enough.

He drew her to him, his hard lips barely touching her soft ones. She tasted so good. Sweet and spicy at the same time. It made his lips tingle. His free hand crept up her back, curving around the back of her head, tangling in her warm hair. She wound her arms around his neck and tried to pull him closer.

He wanted nothing more than to crush her into him. Kiss her deep and hard. The need was a constant weight. His brows drew together and his eyes squeezed as he made himself touch her softly. So softly. It was maddening. The icy prickle was insistent.

He drank her in, as much as he dared. Her heart was pounding, her blood pumping through her veins, her breath stopped entirely. Finally, he pulled away, easily breaking her hold around his neck. His head seemed to swim a little as he leaned back.

Bella sucked in air as she finally remembered to breathe. The fire in her eyes bore into him. Edward clenched his jaw again. Want.